Mark Ruskell

6 Sep 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

Answer · Lorna Slater: We have today published a consultation on our Biodiversity Framework. The Framework will accelerate the pace and scale of our efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity, creating a nature positive Scotland and supporting people and communities to take the oppor…

3 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19420 by Fiona Hyslop on 3 July 2023, whether it will provide an update on the delivery of an online reporting system for dangerous driving following its meeting with Police Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As referenced in my previous correspondence, officials received a scoping paper from Police Scotland that outlines their programme for delivery, particularly on what they are looking to deliver and a detailed timescale. My officials met with Police Scotland o…

3 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a progress update on the National Speed Management Review.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As part of Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 , we are undertaking a National Speed Management Review. The review covers comprehensive analysis of all types of speed management policies and initiatives in Scotland as well as a review of what has been …

24 Jul 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on extended producer responsibility for packaging reforms.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The UK Government has yesterday announced a decision taken to defer obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging payments from October 2024 to October 2025. The Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging is being progressed by the UK G…

13 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10670 by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022, whether any noise monitoring and enforcement trials have been introduced by any road authority in Scotland within the last five years.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is not aware of any noise monitoring enforcement trials introduced by any road authority within the last five years.      

13 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10670 by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022, whether it will provide an update on the inclusion of noise monitoring in Transport Scotland's remote sensing programme for vehicle emissions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Transport Scotland remote sensing study is assessing real-world vehicle emissions in four main cities in Scotland (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow). The first of three emission testing campaigns, scheduled for 2021 to 2023, took place during Oc…

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to encouraging the nesting of (a) swifts and (b) other birds through changing building standards.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Securing positive effects for biodiversity is one of six statutory outcomes for the National Planning Framework, as identified in section 3A(3)(c) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended. National Planning Framework (NPF4) was adopted…

1 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what consideration it has given to introducing compulsory sale orders for vacant properties.

Answer · Paul McLennan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-02398 on 21 June 2023 which is available at Meeting of the Parliament: 21/06/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website .

1 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported fatalities, what consideration has been given to providing a traffic-free cycle route alongside the A85 from Glen Ogle to Crianlarich.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Our thoughts remain with the family of the person who died in a collision with a heavy goods vehicle on the A85 between Crianlarich and Lix Toll on 23 August 2021. Each year Transport Scotland, through its Operating Companies, undertakes a review of collisio…

27 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has today published the new National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, which is available at: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781805251545 . The Strategy sets out a refreshed approach to tackling litter and flytipping in order to protect an…

26 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has come to a decision on whether to provide the Scottish SPCA with additional powers to investigate wildlife crime, following the Scottish SPCA taskforce review.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I would like to thank the Scottish SPCA Taskforce for conducting the review and providing the final report. Following consideration of the report provided by the Scottish SPCA Taskforce, I can announce that I will be bringing forward provisions in the Wildlif…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the current bathing water designation process, in light of the concerns raised by the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland that the current policy to only allow bathing water status at sites that have had 150 daily visitors is disproportionately high and preven…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Under the Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations 2008, Scottish Ministers designate bathing waters where they expect a large number of people to bathe, having regard to past trends and infrastructure and facilities provided, or other measures taken to promote b…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the water quality in freshwater lochs and waterways ahead of the summer bathing water season.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations 2008 require at the end of the bathing water season each year that the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) assesses each bathing water on the basis of samples collected during the season, plus the preceding…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it will be possible to achieve Scotland’s climate target of 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 without a site-specific just transition plan for the Mossmorran complex.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland remains at the forefront of the global journey to reach net zero emissions and a climate resilient future. We are committed to a just transition to net-zero by 2045 and within this, decarbonisation of industry is ‘mission critical’. It is clear that…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to meet with the local community, workers, and operators of the Mossmorran complex regarding a site-specific just transition plan for the site.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Mossmorran industrial complex plays an important role in the local economy for Fife, and I am keen to see that role, and the many well-paid jobs and skills preserved through a just transition to net-zero. Given the novel nature of industrial just transit…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to evaluate the impact of the Low Emission Zone in Glasgow.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Local authorities are required to publish an annual report on the operation and effectiveness of their LEZ scheme, and submit to a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers for review.

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of its Delivery Plan for the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Delivery Plan is currently in preparation, including the consideration of how best to engage with delivery partners and other interested parties. Significant action is being taken by this Government to develop, deliver and invest in Scotland’s strategic …

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the environmental and climate impacts of the use of private jets departing from and arriving at Scotland’s airports.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Emissions from private jets departing from Scotland’s airports are captured in Scottish source emissions as reported in ‘Scottish greenhouse gas statistics’, the most recent version of which covers 2021 and was published in June 2023. Estimated emissions from…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to ensure that its forthcoming aviation strategy is compliant with Scotland’s climate change obligations.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scotland’s climate change obligations include emissions from domestic and international aviation. ‘Scottish greenhouse gas statistics 2021’, published in June 2023, show that emissions from international aviation dropped by 23% between 2020 and 2021. Domestic…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will introduce the devolved Air Departure Tax to align aviation policy with Scotland’s climate change goals.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As outlined in the Scottish Budget 2023-24, the Scottish Government remains committed to introducing Air Departure Tax when a solution to the Highlands and Islands exemption issue has been found. The Scottish Government is carefully considering the implicatio…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards decarbonising the Fife Circle railway line by 2024.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Decarbonisation of Fife rail services was not planned to complete by 2024. Development work for future electrification in Fife is currently underway. Some advance work is being carried out between Haymarket to Dalmeny to facilitate the future electrification …

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards (a) decarbonising Scotland’s passenger rail services by 2035 and (b) delivering the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Positive progress continues to be made with the electrification of the Glasgow to Barrhead Route and with plans for the electrification of the East Kilbride route now at an advanced stage. Plans for further electrification continue to be developed across the …

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board last met, and what work is currently underway to progress commitments towards smart integrated ticketing across public transport in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Secondary legislation on the establishment of The National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board (NSTAB) came into force in May 2023 and as such recruitment for board members is now underway, with a proposal to undertake the inaugural meeting by the end of the year.…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18387 by Mairi McAllan on 9 June 2023, whether it will provide an update on its work with ATCO and COSLA in developing the Community Bus Fund, and when it plans to launch the Community Bus Fund.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with ATCO and COSLA in developing the Community Bus Fund (CBF). We are currently running proposals through the COSLA governance process with a view to launch the fund later this year.

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards removing the majority of diesel buses from public transport by the end of 2023.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In 2021, through the first phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB), the Scottish Government supported operators to acquire 276 zero-emission buses and their supporting infrastructure, with awards of £62 million. This hugely successful…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland’s delivery of an online reporting system for dangerous driving.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19190 on 27 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have submitted assessments to identify any roads that are appropriate for the adoption of 20mph speed limits.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following 24 local authorities have submitted their road assessment; 1. Highland Council 2. Angus Council 3. Orkney Council 4. Renfrewshire Council 5. Dumfries and Galloway Council 6. Fife Council 7. Dundee City Council 8. City of Edinburgh Counci…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has completed the review into public funding for bus operators in Scotland, and, if so, what the review has recommended.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Reviews for the Network Support Grant and National Concessionary Travel Schemes are being taken forward this financial year and are ongoing. The review of concessionary travel is one of the workstreams being progressed through the Fair Fares Review.

21 Jun 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the pilot providing free bus travel to people seeking asylum in Glasgow.

19 Jun 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will recommit to the leadership needed to tackle the climate emergency.